328 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. I. No. 12. 



the name of the thing pictured may suggest 

 the phonetic value. The work is not easy. 

 Brinton takes up one after another such as 

 have been most studied, or for which he 

 has a meaning to suggest. That we are 

 still far from final conclusions is shown by 

 the variation in interpretations of different 

 authors. A group of signs which Seler con- 

 siders are derived from ' man ' and signi- 

 fying ' person,' others distribute among 

 crescent, ear, a serpent's mouth, eye and 

 eye-lash, comh, claw, feather, part of a 

 plant, etc. One of the commonest of 

 glyphs, believed by Brinton to be derived 

 from a picture of a feather ornament, and 

 with the phonetic value of ijax, and mean- 

 ing (by metaphor) green, new, young, 

 strong, fresh, virile, etc., is by others 

 variously identified as representing a gourd, 

 a tree, a zapote fruit, the phallus, etc. Su.ch 

 diversity of opinion is not discouraging ; it 

 only shows that much remains to do. 



Our author does not slavishly follow 

 authority. The bee-god sign and the yax 

 character already mentioned show independ- 

 ence. His recognition of the pax (drum) 

 sign is ingenious and probably strong. He 

 introduces much new argument in identify- 

 ing the deities. His suggestions in refer- 

 ence to day and month signs are thoughtful. 



In so new a field we must have conflict of 

 ideas. Dr. Brinton fairly aims to present 

 all sides. The Primer shows the real posi- 

 tion of knowledge on the question as result- 

 ing from the labors of Seler, Thomas, Schell- 

 has, Forstemann and a host of other stu- 

 dents. It is a good summary of present 

 knowledge with a considerable addition of 

 new and thoughtful material. It points the 

 way, gives suggestion and help. The be- 

 ginner must have the book, and every 

 worker must recognize that Dr. Brinton by 

 its publication puts all under genuine ob- 

 ligation, whether they agree with all his ar- 

 guments or not. Feedeeick Staee. 



Univeesity of Chicago, Feb. 16, 1895. 



Steam and the Marine Steam Engine. By John 

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 & Co. Illustrated. 105 Engravingg. 

 Pp. xiv, 196. 8vo. $2.50. 

 This is a book written by a Fleet Engineer 

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The structure of engines and boilers, and 

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 cluding the slide-valve and its gearing, in- 

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 and its descriptive account of the macliine. 

 It is well made ; paper, tj^pe, style and blad- 

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